Portable entertainment device

ABSTRACT

A portable entertainment device is disclosed. The entertainment device comprises a front side, a back side, a top side having a display adapted to display a plurality of indicia, and a securing mechanism operatively connected to the entertainment device so that the display is visible to the user when in use.

FIELD OF THE INVENTION

The present invention generally is directed to a portable entertainmentdevice, and in particular, to such a device with a display which isvisible to a user when the device is in use.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

In today's technological world, smaller is better. This is especiallytrue with respect to portable entertainment devices like MP3 playerswhere size and weight play a major role in a consumer's decision topurchase a particular device. These devices usually have a display onthe front which displays a variety of indicia related to the type ofdevice, such as radio frequency, track number, etc. They also ofteninclude a mechanism which allows the device to be secured to a person sohe or she does not have to carry the device in his or her hands. This isespecially helpful during activities such as exercising. Typically, thesecuring mechanism is either a clip that affixes to a person's belt orclothing, or an armband that allows a person to wear the device on hisor her upper arm. However, when secured in such a manner, the display ofthe device is no longer visible to the user. In order to see thedisplay, the user must either remove the device from his or her personor reposition it such that the display can be seen. This is not onlyimpractical, but the additional handling of the device adds to its wearand tear. Accordingly, there is a need for a portable entertainmentdevice that overcomes these problems.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

A portable entertainment device is disclosed. The device has a frontside, a back side, a top side having a display, the display beingadapted to display a plurality of indicia, and a securing mechanismoperatively connected to the entertainment device and adapted to securethe entertainment device to a user such that the display is visible to auser when the device is secured thereto. The securing mechanism maycomprise a band defining an axis, the axis being generally parallel tothe back side of the entertainment device, the securing mechanism beingadapted to secure the entertainment device to an upper arm portion ofthe user such that the back side of the entertainment device ispositioned adjacent the upper arm portion of the user and the indiciadisplayed on the display is visible from a direction that is generallyparallel to the axis of the band. The band may comprise expandablematerial movable between a relaxed state and a stretched state, whereinthe relaxed diameter of the band is less than the diameter of a user'supper arm and the stretched diameter is greater than the diameter of auser's upper arm. The securing mechanism may also or alternativelycomprise a clip. The plurality of indicia may comprise at least one of aradio frequency, a radio station name, a song name, a performer's name,an album name, a track number, a time of day, and a date. Theentertainment device may comprise any device capable of providing audioand/or visual entertainment to a user, including without limitation aradio, a compact disc player, or an MP3 player.

A method is also disclosed. The method may comprise providing a portableentertainment device as set forth above, and positioning theentertainment device on an upper arm portion of a user. The method mayalso comprise providing a portable entertainment device, and securingthe entertainment device to the user.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

FIG. 1 shows a device in accordance with one embodiment of the presentinvention, in use;

FIG. 2 is a top plan view of the device of FIG. 1;

FIG. 3 is a side plan view of the device of FIG. 1;

FIG. 4 is a front plan view of the device of FIG. 1; and

FIG. 5 is a back plan view of the device of FIG. 1.

Corresponding reference characters indicate corresponding partsthroughout the several views of the drawings.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS

Referring now to the drawings, and more particularly to FIG. 1, aportable entertainment device in accordance with one embodiment of thepresent invention is shown generally at 20. In the embodiment shown, theentertainment device is an AM/FM radio, although any suitable portableentertainment device capable of providing audio and/or visualentertainment could be used, including without limitation a CD player orMP3 player.

Referring now to FIGS. 2-5, the entertainment device 20 includes a backside 22 and a top side 24. As shown in FIG. 2, the top side 24 includesa display 26 for displaying a variety of indicia related to the type ofdevice. In the case of the device 20, such indicia may include a radiostation's name and/or frequency, a song name, a performer's name, analbum name, a track number, a time of day and/or a date.

A securing mechanism is operatively connected to the entertainmentdevice 20 for securing the entertainment device to a user. In theembodiment shown in FIG. 1, the securing mechanism comprises a band 30of expandable material that is moveable between a relaxed state and astretched state. The band 30 is connected to the entertainment device 20as shown in FIGS. 2, 3 and 5. In particular, the band forms a loop 32having an axis 34 which is generally parallel to the back side 22 of theentertainment device 20. The user can then place the band around his orher upper arm as shown in FIG. 1. The securing mechanism, however, maybe any mechanism capable of securing the device to a person, such as aclip 36 as shown in FIGS. 3 and 5 that allows the entertainment device20 to be secured to the user such that the display is visible while inuse. In the case of the entertainment device 20 shown in the figures, itmay also includes an AM/FM switch 40 (FIG. 4), an On/Off switch 42, afrequency selector 44 (FIG. 5) and a headphone jack 46 (FIG. 3).

In use, the entertainment device 20 is secured to an upper arm portionof a user, as shown in FIG. 1, by stretching the band 30 of expandablematerial from the relaxed state to a stretched state thereby allowingthe band to be placed around the user's upper arm. With such aconfiguration, the display 26 is visible to the user from a direction 50as shown in FIG. 3 when the device is in use.

As various changes could be made in the above constructions and methodswithout departing from the scope of the invention, it is intended thatall matter contained in the above description or shown in theaccompanying drawings shall be interpreted as illustrative and not in alimiting sense. For example, while the entertainment device is shown asa radio and the indicia displayed on the display corresponds to theradio frequency to which the device is tuned, it is to be understoodthat other types of entertainment devices may be used and other types ofindicia may be displayed without departing from this invention. Thus,the breadth and scope of the present invention should not be limited byany of the above-described exemplary embodiments, but should be definedonly in accordance with the following claims appended hereto and theirequivalents.

1. A portable entertainment device, comprising: a front side; a backside; a top side having a display, the display being adapted to displaya plurality of indicia; and a securing mechanism operatively connectedto the entertainment device and adapted to secure the entertainmentdevice to a user such that the display is visible to a user when thedevice is secured to the user.
 2. The device as set forth in claim 1,wherein the securing mechanism comprises a band defining an axis, theaxis being generally parallel to the back side of the entertainmentdevice, the securing mechanism being adapted to secure the entertainmentdevice to an upper arm portion of the user such that the back side ofthe entertainment device is positioned adjacent the upper arm portion ofthe user and the indicia displayed on the display is visible from adirection that is generally parallel to the axis of the band.
 3. Thedevice as set forth in claim 2, wherein the band comprises expandablematerial movable between a relaxed state and a stretched state.
 4. Thedevice of claim 3, wherein the upper arm portion of the user has anupper arm diameter, and wherein the relaxed diameter of the band is lessthan the upper arm diameter and the stretched diameter is greater thanthe upper arm diameter.
 5. The device as set forth in claim 1, whereinthe securing mechanism comprises a clip.
 6. The device as set forth inclaim 1, wherein the plurality of indicia comprises at least one of aradio frequency, a radio station name, a song name, a performer's name,a track number, a time of day, and a date.
 7. The device as set forth inclaim 1, wherein the entertainment device comprises a radio.
 8. Thedevice as set forth in claim 1, wherein the entertainment devicecomprises a compact disc player.
 9. The device as set forth in claim 1,wherein the entertainment device comprises an MP3 player.
 10. A methodcomprising: providing a portable entertainment device as set forth inclaim 1; and positioning the entertainment device on an upper armportion of a user.
 11. A method, comprising: providing a portableentertainment device as set forth in claim 1; and securing theentertainment device to the user.